t<r\n  OF  THE 

Pu  ' v.  'S1TV of, ft L,WOiS 

- Handbook 

: . crfe  ^ 

1/  V _ 


NEW  YORK  STATE 
MUSEUM 


Frederick  J.  H.  Merrill  Director 
NOVEMBER  1902 


|K 


Staff 


[History 

■Geology  . . 

Mineralogy  

IPaleontology 

[General  zoology . . 

[Entomology  . , 

1 Botany  

....  41 

[Archeology  

|>d79P-N2-2000 


REGENTS 

With  years  of  election 

1892  William  Croswell  Doane  D.D.  LL.Dl  :1 

Chancellor , Altt 

1878  Whitelaw  Reid  M.A.  LL.D.  V 

Vice  Chancellor , New  7 
1877  Chauncey  M.  Depew  LL.D.  . . New" 

1877  CHARLES  E.  Fitch  LL.B.  M.A.  L.H.D. 

Rochet  | 

1881  William  H.  Watson  M.A.  M.D.  LL.D.  UtJ 
1881  Henry  E.  Turner  LL.D.  . . . . Lowvi 

1883  St  Clair  McKelway  M.A.  L.H.D.  LL.Ej 

D.C.L. Brook 

1885  Daniel  Beach  Ph.D.  LL.D ....  Watk 
1888  Carroll  E.  Smith  LL.D.  ....  . Syrac 

1890  Pliny  T.  Sexton  LL.D Pain 

1890  T.  Guilford  Smith  M.A.  C.E.  LL.D.  Buffa| 

1893  Lewis  A.  Stimson  B.A.  LL.D.  M.D.  New  Yor 
1895  Albert  Vander  Veer  M.A.  Ph.D. 

M.D Alban 

1895  Charles  R.  Skinner  M.A.  LL.D.  Superinvj 
tendent  of  Public  Instruction,  ex  officio 
1897  Chester  S.  Lord  M.A.  LL.D.  . . Brooklyr 

1900  Thomas  A.  Hendrick  M.A.  LL.D.  Rochester 

1901  Benjamin  B.  Odell  jr  LL.D.  Governor,  eJ 

officio  I 

1901  Robert  C.  Pruyn  M.A Albany 

1902  William  Nottingham  M.A.  Ph.D.  Syracuse 

1903  Frank  W.  Higgins,  Lieutenant  Governor, 

ex  officio 

1903  John  F.  O’Brien,  Secretary  of  State,  ex 
officio 

1903  Charles  A.  Gardiner  LL.B.  M.A.  Ph.D. 

New  York 

1903  Charles  S.  Francis,  B S Troy 

SECRETARY 
Elected  by  Regents 

1900  James  Russell  Parsons  jr  M.A.  LL.D. 


4* 

U'  •*"  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

K?  Administration  and  geology 

’rederick  J.  H.  Merrill  Ph.D.  (Columbia) 

) Director  and  state  geologist 

Vienry  H.  Hindshaw  B.S.  (Chicago  Coll,  of  Sci.) 

Assistant  in  geology 
lerbert  P.  Whitlock  C.  E.  (Columbia) 

Assistant  in  mineralogy 
Frederick  C.  Paulmier  M.S.  (Princeton)  Ph.D. 

(Columbia) c.  Assistant  in  zoology 

oseph  Morje . Clerk  and  stenographer 

Adelbert  Trask Junior  clerk 

l C.  Kenny Stenographer 

f J Paleontology 

I John  M.  Clarke  M.A.  (Amherst)  Ph.D.  (Marburg) 
1 LL.D.  (Amherst)  . . . . . . State  paleontologist 
/Rudolf  Ruedemann  Ph  D.  (Jena,  Germany) 

Assistant  state  paleontologist 

0.  Dana  Luther Assistant 

Philip  Ast Lithographer 

1.  S.  Barkentin Draftsman 

acob  Van  Deloo Clerk  and  stenographer 

Martin  Sheehy Helper 

N 3.  S.  Mattimore  ...  Preparator 

Botany 

lharles  H.  Peck  M.A.  (Union)  . . . State  botanist 

Entomology 

[ Ephraim  Porter  Felt  B.S.  (Boston)  D.Sc.  (Cornell) 
State  entomologist 

j Charles  M.  Walker  B.  S (Mass.  Agric.  Col.) 

L , Assistant 

f b.  B.  Young “ 

Speorge  W.  V.  Spellacy Page 

Archeology 

Rev.  William  M.  Beauchamp  S.  T.  D.  (Hobart) 

Author  of  bulletins 


Plate 


bon  ' 

H 4 ^rrs 

University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


NEW  YORK  STATE 
MUSEUM 


HISTORY 


o The  New  York  State  Museum  organized 
py  act  of  Legislature  in  1870  under  the  title 
U the  State  Museum  of  Natural  History  and 
placed  under  the  trusteeship  of  the  Regents 
pf  the  University,  is  the  result  of  the  geolo- 
gical survey  of  the  State  commenced  in  1836. 

This  survey  was  established  at  the  ex- 
pressed wish  of  the  people  to  have  some 
definite  and  positive  knowledge  of  the 
mineral  resources  and  the  vegetable  and 
animal  productions  of  the  State.  Hon.  Ste- 
phen Van  Rensselaer  was  the  patron  of  the 
first  enterprise  of  this  kind  which  was  con- 
Qducted  by  Prof.  Amos  Eaton  and  had  pub- 
lished much  valuable  information,  but  it  was 
<elt  that  a more  thorough  investigation  was 
gneeded.  The  idea  was  fully  expressed  in  a 
jnemorial1  presented  by  the  Albany  Institute 
^to  the  State  Legislature  in  1834,  asking  for 
the  establishment  of  a State  Museum  in 
which  the  object  was  thus  stated:  “ To  form 
a grand  and  comprehensive  collection  of  the 


^ Senate  documeppi^o.  .55,^x834^ 

l 


Plate  2 


Entrance* 


New  York  State  Museum  5 

^£atural  productions  of  the  State  of  New  York ; 
jto  exhibit  at  one  view  and  under  one  roof, 
^ its  animal,  vegetable  and  mineral  wealth.” 
In  1835  the  American  Institute  of  the  City 
of  New  York  presented  a memorial1  to  the 
Legislature  on  the  same  subject,  and  this 
memorial  together  with  the  influences 
prompting  the  request  of  the  Albany  Insti- 
tute, induced  the  Legislature  of  1835  to  pass 
r^a  resolution  requesting  the  secretary  of  state 
►/'to  report  to  that  body  “the  most  expedient 
^ method  for  oblaining  a complete  geological 
$ survey  of  the  State,  which  shall  furnish  a 
scientific  and  perfect  account  of  its  rocks, 
soils  and  minerals  and  of  their  localities;  a 
list  of  its  mineralogical,  botanical  and 
zoological  productions  and  provide  for  pro* 
curing  and  preserving  specimens  of  the 
same  together  with  an  estimate  of  the  ex 
penses  which  may  attend  the  prosecution  of 
the  design,  and  of  the  cost  of  publication  of 
an  edition  of  3000  copies  of  the  report,  draw- 
ings and  geological  map  of  its  results.” 
Pursuant  to  this  request,  Hon.  John  A. 
Dix,  then  secretary  of  state,  presented  to  the 
Legislature  of  1836,  a report2  proposing  a 


1 Assembly  document  no.  374,  1835. 

2 Assembly  document  no.  9,  1836. 


6 University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


plan  for  a complete  geologic,  botanic  an^ 
zoologic  survey  of  the  State.  This  report! 
was  adopted  by  the  Legislature  then  in* 
session  and  the  governor  was  authorized  to 
employ  competent  persons  to  carry  out  the 
plan  which  with  some  modification  was  at 
once  put  into  effect. 

The  scientific  staff  of  the  Natural  History 
Survey  of  1836  consisted  of  John  Torrey,  bot- 
anist ; James  E.  De  Kay,  zoologist;  Lewis  C.  . 
Beck,  mineralogist;  W.  W.  Mather,  Ebenezer* 
Emmons,  Lardner  Vanuxem  and  Timothy  g 
A.  Conrad,  geologists.  In  1837  Professor  | 
Conrad  was  made  paleontologist  and  James 
Hall,  who  had  been  an  assistant  to  Professor 
Emmons,  was  appointed  geologist  to  succeed 
Professor  Vanuxem,  who  took  Professor 
Conrad’s  place. 

The  heads  of  the  several  departments  re- 
ported annually  to  the  governor  the  results  t 
of  their  investigations,  and  these  constituted 
the  annual  octavo  reports  which  were  pub- 
lished from  1837  to  1841.  The  final  reports] 


were  published  in  quarto  form,  beginning  at  l 


the  close  of  the  field  work  in  1841,  and  3000 
sets  have  been  distributed,  comprising  four 
volumes  of  geology,  one  of  mineralogy,  two 


\ 


New  York  State  Museum  7 

fof  botany,  five  of  zoology,  five  of  agriculture 
and  eight  of  paleontology.1 

Several  state  geologic  maps  have  also 
been  published  as,  well  as  many  annual 
reports  and  bulletins. 

The  collections  in  the  several  departments 
were  supposed  to  require  a room  of  some 
magnitude,  and  it  was  thought  that  one 
could  be  found  in  the  third  story  of  the 
\ old  capitol,  by  taking  away  a partition  and 
throwing  into  one,  two  rooms  used  by  com- 
mittees; but  long  before  the  completion  of 
i the  survey  it  was  evident  that  the  collections 
would  require  much  more  space  than  the 
capitol  rooms  would  afford,  and  in  1840 
Governor  Seward,  in  response  to  a memorial 
urging  “the  importance  of  providing  suit- 
able rooms  or  a separate  building  for  the 
collections  made  during  the  survey,”  recom- 
mended that  the  old  State  Hall  on  the  corner 
of  State  and  Lodge  streets  be  used  for  that 
purpose. 

This  old  building  was  replaced  in  1857  by 
anew  one,  Geological  and  Agricultural  Hall, 

1 and  the  collections  which  at  first  were  to  find 
place  in  two  committee  rooms,  now  occupy  a 


1 For  more  complete  details  of  the  Natural  His- 
tory Survey  see  Museum  bulletin  56. 


8 University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


large  part  of  the  main  floor  and  three  entii\  j 
floors  above,  besides  storage  accommodation:  1 
in  the  basement.  There  are  also  large  col-^ 
lections  of  fossils  stored  in  the  rooms  of  the  ** 
division  of  paleontology  in  the  State  Hall. 

These  collections  with  those  which  have 
been  added  in  later  years  form  a scientific 
museum  of  great  interest  and  value,  and  its 
publications  are  recognized  among  the  works 
of  standard  authority  in  science. 

This  museum,  with  its  extensive  and™ 
increasing  collections  and  publications,  plays 
an  extensive  part  in  the  educational  syste 
of  the  State,  since  the  importance  of  thi: 
kind  of  education  has  become  so  fully  and^ 
generally  recognized 

Though  neither  coal  nor  mines  of  gold  o: 
silver  have  been  found  within  the  State: 
its  deposits  of  building  stone,  clay,  iron  ore 
graphite,  talc,  garnet  etc.  are  of  much  com 
mercial  importance  and  New  York  possesses 
the  most  complete  and  unbroken  series  o: 
the  Paleozoic  or  older  fossiliferous  rocks! 
known  in  the  world.  For  these  the  collec- ^ 
tions  of  the  museum  with  the  nomenclature 
of  New  York  will  always  be  the  standard 
of  reference  and  authority. 


New  York  State  Museum 


9 


i It  may  justly  be  said  that  Hon.  John  A. 
Dix,  as  secretary  of  state,  in  1836  laid  the 
foundation  of  this  museum  and  of  all  the 
scientific  and  practical  results  which  have 
accrued  from  the  inauguration  of  the  geo- 
logical survey  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

At  the  time  of  the  final  arrangement  of  the 
collections  of  the  geological  survey,  in  1843, 
very  little  was  known  in  this  country  regard- 
ing museums  of  natural  history,  and  no  true 
appreciation  of  what  such  an  institution 
should  be  existed  except  in  the  minds  of  a 
few  persons.  It  is  not  strange,  therefore,, 
that  there  should  have  been  a general  acqui- 
escence in  the  proposition  that  the  collections 
of  the  geological  survey  should  be  deposited 
in  the  old  State  Hall  for  “safe-keeping,”  and 
the  idea  of  constant  and  steady  increase 
toward  a great  museum  of  natural  history 
was  scarcely,  if  at  all  promulgated.  The 
collections  and  the  rooms  that  they  occupied 
were  placed  in  charge  of  a curator,  Mr  J.  W. 
Taylor  who  was  succeeded  by  Mr  John 
Gebhard  jr,  and  he  in  turn  in  1857  by 
Colonel  Jewett.  The  small  annual  appro- 
priations made  by  the  Legislature  were  only 
sufficient  for  the  custody  and  very  moderate 
increase  of  the  collection.  Matters  remained 


Plate 


New  York  State  Museu?n 


ii 


in  this  condition  till  1865,  when  the  Legis- 
lature passed  some  resolutions  tending  to 
the  expansion  of  the  museum;  and  following 
these,  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Regents 
addressed  a circular  letter  to  numerous  scien- 
tific men,  professors  and  teachers,  asking 
suggestions  as  to  the  best  mode  of  putting  in 
force  the  objects  of  the  Legislature  as 
expressed  in  the  resolutions  referred  to. 

The  communications  in  reply  to  this  were 
published  in  the  19th  report  of  the  State  Cab- 
inet, together  with  a recommendation  of  the 
committee  of  the  Regents  to  whom  the  sub- 
ject had  been  referred.  This  recommenda- 
tion became  the  first  step  toward  an  improved 
condition  and  a recognition  of  the  necessity 
of  regarding  the  museum  as  a series  of  col- 
lections in  natural  history  which  were  to  be 
increased  and  elaborated  in  every  depart- 
ment. In  1865  Colonel  Jewett  resigned  and 
was  succeeded  as  curator  by  James  Hall, 
who  was  made  director  in  1870. 

The  discovery  of  the  mastodon  skeleton  at 
Cohoes,  in  the  summer  of  1 866,  and  its  acqui- 
sition by  the  State  Cabinet,  attracted  much 
attention  toward  the  institution.  At  the  next 
Legislature  successful  application  was  made 
for  $5000  to  purchase  the  Gould  collection  of 


12  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

A 

shells  and  this  accession  of  60,000  specimens'' 
representing  6000  species  was  generally 
appreciated.  4 

The  new  capitol  commissioners,  wishing 
information  as  to  the  sources  of  building 
material,  engaged  the  curator  of  the  State 
Cabinet  to  make  a reconnaissance  which 
resulted  in  a report  to  the  commissioners  and 
the  acquisition  to  the  State  Cabinet  by  this 
and  other  means,  of  the  large  collection  of  | 
marbles,  limestones,  sandstones  and  granites  j 
which  now  occupy  two  sides  of  the  entrance  ^ 
hall  of  the  museum. 

Heretofore  the  State  Cabinet  had  received 
no  regular  or  fixed  appropriation  of  money 
from  the  Legislature,  but  in  1870  a law  was 
passed  organizing  the  same,  under  the  des- 
ignation of  the  State  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  and  appropriating  $10,000  annually 
to  provide  for  the  salaries  of  the  director  and 
three  assistants,  together  with  the  expenses 
of  increase  and  preservation  of  the  collect- 
ions. In  addition  to  this,  the  sum  of  $1500 
was  annually  appropriated  for  the  salary  of 
a botanist,  and  special  appropriations  have 
been  made  from  time  to  time. 

In  1883  Prof.  Charles  H.  Peck,  who  had 
been  employed  in  botanic  work  for  the 


New  York  State  Museum 


13 


museum  since  1867,  was  appointed  to  the 
office  of  state  botanist. 

The  labors  of  Dr  Asa  Fitch  from  1854-70, 
as  entomologist  to  the  State  Agricultural 
Society,  led  in  1874  to  the  placing  of  the  late 
Dr  J.  A.  Lintner,  then  an  assistant  in  the 
museum,  in  charge  of  the  entomologic 
division.  This  practically  made  him  state 
entomologist  and  in  1880  he  was  appointed 
to  that  position  by  Governor  Cornell  and 
held  it  till  his  death  in  1898.  He  was  an 
independent  state  officer  from  1880  to  1883, 
when  he  was  again  made  a member  of  the 
museum  staff.  Dr  Lintner  was  succeeded  by 
Dr  E.  P.  Felt. 

In  1885  Dr  John  C.  Smock  was  appointed 
assistant  in  charge  of  the  New  York  State 
Museum  and  conducted  its  work  till  1890 
when  he  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr 
Frederick  J.  H.  Merrill  with  the  titles  of 
assistant  state  geologist  and  assistant  direc- 
tor. In  1894,  Dr  Merrill  was  made  director 
of  the  museum  and  in  1898,  after  the  death 
of  Dr  Hall,  received  in  addition  the  appoint- 
ment of  state  geologist.  At  this  time  Dr 
John  M.  Clarke  was  appointed  to  the  posi- 
tion of  state  paleontologist. 


1 4 University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

In  1889  the  State  Museum  was  made  an 
integral  part  of  the  University  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  the  fifth  floor  of  the  new 
capitol  was  formally  assigned  for  its  use. 
This  assignment  has  since  been  revoked  and 
a new  building  is  promised.  Mcst  of  the 
museum  remains  on  the  four  floors  of  Geo- 
logical Hall  on  State  street,  corner  of  Lodge. 
Here  are  the  collections  in  geology,  miner- 
alogy,  paleontology  and  zoology,  and  the 
office  of  the  director  and  state  geologist, 
and  of  the  state  botanist  and  state  entomolo- 
gist. The  state  paleontologist  has  his  office 
in  State  Hall  on  Eagle  street.  The  State 
Museum  in  addition  to  its  work  of  collecting 
material  representative  of  the  natural  re- 
sources of  the  State,  is  also  the  seat  of  the 
geological  and  natural  history  survey  which 
has  been  in  progress  since  1832,  and  under 
the  auspices  of  which  numerous  reports  have 
been  published  on  geology,  paleontology, 
zoology  and  botany.  The  museum  is  open 
to  the  public  from  9 a.m.  till  4.30  p.m.  daily 
except  Sundays. 

Inasmuch  as  the  State  Museum  comprises 
all  scientific  work  intrusted  to  the  Regents 
it  is  proper  to  mention  the  resurvey  of  the 
boundary  line  between  New  York  and  the 


New  York  State  Museum  15 

'statesof  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania.  This 
was  done  in  accordance  with  resolutions 
passed  by  the  Legislature  in  1867  andin  1875, 
and  by  the  laws  of  1880  the  boundary  lines 
resurveyed  and  monumented  under  the 
direction  of  the  Regents  were  accepted  as  the 
true  boundaries  of  the  State. 

The  annual  appropriations  in  1902 
amounted  to  $36,990  and  though  inadequate 
to  the  requirements  of  such  a museum,  serve 
nevertheless  to  keep  up  a visible  and  sub- 
stantial progress  in  each  of  the  depart- 
ments, as  shown  by  the  increasing  order  of 
the  collections  and  the  additions  to  them, 
recorded  in  the  annual  museum  reports  and 
by  the  great  mass  of  published  information. 

The  present  organization  and  staff  of  the 
museum  are  given  on  page  1. 

GEOLOGY 

Pure  geology.  A complete  collection  of 
igneous  rocks  arranged  according  to  the 
classification  of  Rosenbusch  and  consisting 
of  515  specimens  is  displayed  in  wall  cases 
on  the  second  floor.  These  form  an  ex- 
tremely valuable  series  and  together  with 
the  synoptic  collection  to  be  mentioned 
hereafter  constitute  an  excellent  guide  and 


1 6 University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

reference  to  the  rock  collection  on  the  third 
floor. 

The  synoptic  collection  above  mentioned 
consists  of  about  1000  specimens  arranged 
to  illustrate  geologic  terms  and  showing  the 
principal  characteristics  of  each  geologic 
division  of  time.  3000  specimens  in  wall 
cases  show  more  fully  the  physical  charac- 
ters and  mode  of  occurrence  of  typical 
fossils  and  minerals  in  the  New  York  series 
of  stratified  rocks. 

On  the  third  floor  is  a collection  of  the 
crystalline  rocks  of  this  State  arranged 
according  to  their  geologic  age.  The 
majority  of  these  specimens  illustrate  the 
geologic  formations  of  New  York,  West- 
chester, Putnam,  Dutchess  and  Orange 
counties,  a few  of  the  crystalline  formations 
of  the  Adirondack  region  and  a series  from 
the  volcanic  neck  at  Northumberland,  Sara- 
toga co.  are  included. 

Various  geologic  maps  of  the  whole  or 
portions  of  New  York  State  are  hung  about 
the  walls  and  they  will  be  found  to  be  of 
great  assistance  in  the  study  of  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  rocks  represented  in  this  collection. 
The  large  geologic  map  of  New  York  State, 
which  hangs  above  the  stairs  leading  up 


New  York  State  Museum  17 

to  the  second  floor,  will  be  found  specially 
valuable  in  this  connection. 

Relief  maps.  Relief  maps  are  a prominent 
feature  of  the  museum.  They  include  the 
following  models: 

1 Southern  New  England,  scale  2 miles  to 
1 inch 

2 New  York  State,  scale  12  miles  to  1 inch 

3 New  York  city  and  vicinity,  scale  1 mile 
to  1 inch 

4 Manhattan  island,  scale  1000  feet  to  1 
inch,  colored  to  show  the  geology 

5 Manhattan  island,  scale  1000  feet  to  r 
inch,  showing  the  present  street  system  and 
the  roads  and  topography  as  they  existed  in 
1776 

6 Catskill  mountains,  scale  1 mile  to  1 inch, 
showing  the  exact  proportion  between  ele- 
vation and  distance 

7 Adirondack  mountains,  scale  1 mile  to 
1 inch 

8 Syracuse  and  vicinity,  scale  1 mile  to  1 
inch 

9 Niagara  gorge  and  vicinity,  scale  500 
feet  to  1 inch 

Economic  geology.  The  study  of  the  min- 
eral resources  of  New  York  has  been 
carried  on  for  many  years  as  a part  of  the 


Plate  4 


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New  York  State  Museum  ig 

' work  of  the  New  York  State  Museum.  This 
work,  which  was  begun  in  1885  by  Prof.  John 
C,  Smock  in  his  studies  on  the  iron  ores  and 
building  stones  of  New  York,  the  results  of 
which  were  published  in  Museum  bulletins 
3,  7 and  10,  was  continued  and  expanded  by 
Dr  F.  J.  H.  Merrill  in  preparing  the  mineral 
exhibits  of  New  York  for  the  World’s  Colum- 
bian Exposition  and  the  Pan-American 
Exposition.  This  work,  which  covered  the 
field  of  the  mineral  resources  of  the  entire 
State,  resulted  in  the  accumulation  of  a 
I large  quantity  of  valuable  material  which 
’ was  exhibited  at  Chicago  and  Buffalo  and  is 
mow  in  the  State  Museum.  From  the  in- 
I formation  compiled  in  this  work  several 
i bulletins  have  been  prepared.  These  com- 
[ prise  the  report  on  the  salt  and  gypsum 
industries  of  New  York,  Bulletin  n,  that 
on  the  clay  industries,  Bulletins  12  and  35, 
and  Bulletin  15,  on  the  mineral  resources  of 
New  York.  The  latter  covers  the  entire 
field  of  economic  production  and  is  illustrated 
by  an  economic  and  geologic  map  of  New 
'York  showing  the  location  of  its  mineral  de- 
posits. It  is  the  plan  of  the  director  of  the 
New  York  State  Museum  to  procure  a 
specimen  from  every  mineral  deposit  in  the 


20  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


State  and  with  each  specimen  to  record  all 
scientific,  technologic  and  statistical  infor- 
mation which  can  be  obtained. 


eral  industries  of  New  York  is  installed  in 
the  entresol  between  the  first  and  second 
floors.  This  was  recently  exhibited  at  the 
Pan-American  Exposition  and  consists  of 
representative  suites  of  iron  ore,  gypsum, 
salt,  clay  products,  abrasives,  mineral  paint, 
lime  and  cement,  petroleum  and  miscella- 
neous industries. 

Collections  illustrating  the  salt,  talc  and 
slate  industries  in  greater  detail  are  ex- 
hibited in  wall  cases  on  the  third  floor, 
where  also  are  located  a collection  of  iion 
ores  from  New  York  State  and  specimens  of 
galena  from  the  mines  at  Rossie,  St  Law- 
rence co.  long  since  worked  out. 

A series  of  building  stones  cut  to  show 
various  styles  of  finish  is  exhibited  in  the 
entrance  hall. 


Systematic  collection.  This  collection  is 
installed  in  the  wall  cases  of  the  mineralo- 
gic  museum  on  the  first  floor.  It  consists 
of  about  3500  specimens  arranged  in  accor- 
dance with  Dana’s  system.  The  collection 


The  large  collection  illustrating  the  min- 


MINERALOGY 


Plate  *5  : i 


Mineral  collection,  north  room 


22  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

is  provided  with  explanatory  cards  at  the 
heads  of  the  important  species  and  is  illus- 
trated with  wooden  models  of  the  principal 
types  of  crystallization.  A complete  system- 
atic catalogue  printed  on  cards  attached  to 
swingingframesis  placed. between  the  cases. 
On  these  cards  the  mineral  species  displayed 
in  the  cases  are  indicated  by  special  conven- 
tions. This  collection  begins  in  case  i at 
the  left  of  the  door  on  entering  and  com- 
pletes the  circuit  of  the  rooms  following  the 
line  of  the  wall.  It  is  supplemented  by  a 
locality  collection  from  Bergen  hill  and 
Weehawken  N.  J.,  installed  in  cases  27  and 
28  consisting  of  150  specimens,  mostly  zeo- 
lites and  by  a collection  of  25  specimens 
of  meteorites  displayed  in  an  upright  case 
occupying  the  northwest  window.  Two 
large  specimens  of  green  fluorite  from 
Macomb  N.  Y.  occupy  an  upright  case  in  the 
center  of  the  room. 

Economic  collection.  An  economic  col- 
lection of  700  specimens  is  displayed  in  the 
table  cases  of  the  northern  section  of  the 
mineralogic  museum.  This  is  arranged  in 
accordance  with  the  following  system. 

A Metallic  ores 

B Substances  used  for  chemical  purposes 


Plate  6 


MINERAL  COLLECTION 

Quartz  series 


24  University  of  the  State  of  New  Yo> 

C Ceramic  materials 
D Refractory  materials 
E Materials  of  physical  application 

1 Abrasives 

2 Graphic  materials 

3 Pigments 

4 Fertilizers 

This  collection  is  further  extended  by  a 
small  collection  of  gems  and  precious  stones 
occupying  a table  case  in  the  southeast  win- 
dow and  by  a collection  of  polished  and 
ornamental  stones  displayed  in  a table  case 
in  the  southern  section  of  the  museum. 

Educational  collection.  The  educational 
collection  displayed  in  the  southwest  row  of 
table  cases  is  designed  to  illustrate  the 
principles  of  mineralogy  and  consists  of 
specimens  and  models  arranged  on  the 
following  general  schemes. 
a Introductory  facts 
b Crystallization 

c Systems  of  crystallization  (grouped 
according  to  symmetry) 
d Variations  in  form 
e Irregularities 

f Crystalline  aggregates.  Structure 
g Cleavage 
h Fracture 


Plate 


Paleontologic  collection,  Geological  Hall 


26  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

i Luster 

j Translucency 

The  educational  collection,  which  contains 
considerable  explanatory  matter  in  the  form 
of  detailed  labels,  presents  to  the  visitor  in  a 
brief  and  illustrative  manner,  the  main  facts 
essential  to  a full  appreciation  of  the  material 
shown  in  the  systematic  collection  and 
should  be  examined  before  passing  to  the 
latter  collection. 

PALEONTOLOGY 

The  paleontologic  collections  are  exten- 
sive, including  probably  a million  specimens 
of  fossil  animal  and  plant  remains  and  are 
largely  representative  of  the  ancient  or 
Paleozoic  faunas  and  floras  of  New  York 
State.  They  have  been  chiefly  collected  by 
members  of  the  museum  staff  and  have  been 
selected  with  the  purpose  of  illustrating  all 
variations  of  the  life  forms  which  existed 
in  the  old  seas  and  on  the  old  lands  of  New 
York,  and  of  demonstrating  their  successive 
relation  in  the  “New  York  series’'  of  geolo- 
gic formations. 

The  researches  in  paleontology  carried  on 
by  the  museum  during  the  past  60  years 
have  been  largely  based  on  these  collections, 
which  embrace  about  5000  “ type  specimens" 


Plate  8 


Part  of  Paleontologic  laboratory,  State  Hall 


28  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

of  these  organisms,  i.  e.  specimens  which 
have  been  used  for  the  illustration  or  original 
description  of  the  species. 

This  fact  gives  to  the  collections  a high 
degree  of  importance  to  students  of  paleon- 
tology and  renders  them  of  fundamental 
value  to  the  geology  of  the  State.  These 
collections,  specially  intended  to  exhibit  both 
the  variety  of  the  ancient  life  of  New  York 
and  its  combinations  into  successive  faunas 
and  floras,  are  annually  augmented  by  large 
additions  and  are  supplemented  by  series  of 
fossils  from  otherparts  of  the  United  States, 
from  Canada  and  Europe. 

Some  of  these  extralimital  series  are  ex- 
tensive and  in  a few  instances  are  not 
equaled  in  other  museums.  These  also 
include  some  type  specimens.  The  collec- 
tions, furthermore,  comprise  series  of  fossils 
from  later  geologic  formations  which  are 
partially  or  not  at  all  represented  in  the 
State,  though  some  striking  objects  are 
local  products.  One  of  these  is  the  nearly 
complete  and  mounted  skeleton  of  a masto- 
don found  in  postglacial  deposits  filling  a 
pothole  in  the  rocks  at  Cohoes  N.  Y. 
Various  other  remains  of  mastodons  from 


Plate 


North  corridor,  zoologic  collection 


30  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

different  parts  of  the  State  are  also  in  the 
museum. 

Such  part  of  these  collections  as  it  has 
been  found  practicable  to  exhibit  are  on  the 
second  and  third  floors  of  Geological  Hall, 
the  Paleozoic  fossils  being  restricted  to  the 
former.  The  great  volume  of  the  collection, 
however,  is  stored  in  drawers  in  the  pale- 
ontologist’s laboratories  in  the  State  Hall 
where  are,  also,  most  of  the  type  specimens. 

The  material  in  this  building  is  here  partly 
for  purposes  of  study,  but  chiefly  because 
want  of  space  prevents  its  display. 

GENERAL  ZOOLOGY 

The  zoologic  collections  occupy  the  entire 
fourth  floor  of  the  museum.  They  include 
a good  and  almost  complete  collection  of 
mounted  New  York  mammals,  besides  a 
number  of  exotic  species.  Among  these  are 
some  very  fine  specimens  of  the  American 
bison,  mounted  specimens  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  sheep  and  mountain  goat,  a 
mounted  rhinoceros  and  its  skeleton,  an 
elephant  skeleton  and  a very  fine  skeleton  of 
the  finback  whale,  63  feet  long.  This  speci- 
men is  exhibited  on  the  floor  occupied  by  the 
state  entomologist.  There  are  also  a num- 
ber of  mounted  skeletons  and  skulls  of 


01  areid 


Birds  of  New  York  Gould  collection  of  shells 


Plate  ii 


Domestic  fowl 


Group  of  bison  and  moose 


34  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

smaller  mammals.  Among  birds  the  col- 
lection is  confined  almost  entirely  to  New 
York  forms  and  is  very  complete,  containing 
over  1200  specimens.  A large  collection  of 
eggs  in  clutches  and  a smaller  one  of  eggs 
in  nests  are  also  on  exhibition.  A collection 
of  skeletons,  including  one  of  the  ostrich, 
shows  very  well  the  osteology  of  the  group. 
The  collection  of  domestic  fowls,  formerly 
the  property  of  the  New  York  State  Agri~ 
cultural  Society,  now  belongs  to  the  museum, 
and  aside  from  its  value  as  an  agricultural 
exhibit,  is  used  to  illustrate  some  of  the 
principles  of  evolution.  The  reptiles  and 
batrachians  are  not  at  present  so  well 
represented.  There  is  a good  collection  of 
New  York  fishes,  including  alcoholic  speci- 
mens, a number  of  casts,  mostly  of  New 
York  food  fishes  and  a collection  of  skeletons. 

In  the  invertebrates  the  museum  is  specially 
strong  in  mollusks,  as  it  possesses  the 
Gould  collection  of  shells  with  some  60,000 
specimens,  representing  6000  species;  a col- 
lection from  Mazatlan  and  a separate  collec- 
tion of  New  York  shells  specially  rich  in 
Unios.  A good  collection  of  corals  and  a 
number  of  glass  sponges  and  sea  fans  are 
also  on  exhibition.  The  remainder  of  the 


A mammal  case 


Plate  14 


Indian  elephant 


New  York  State  Museum 


37 


j invertebrates  are  not  so  well  represented 
but  particular  attention  is  now  being  paid 
toward  increasing  that  part  of  the  collection. 

A recent  feature  of  the  museum  has  been 
the  addition  of  living  forms,  and  a number  of 
vivariums  and  aquariums  containing  rep- 
tiles, batrachians  and  fishes  are  now  on  exhi- 
bition. 

It  is  the  intention  to  make  the  zoologic 
collection  a representative  one  of  the  fauna 
of  New  York  State.  Besides  this,  however, 
its  educational  value  is  to  be  advanced  by 
the  exhibition  of  type  forms  of  other  groups, 
not  found  within  the  State,  and  of  prepara- 
tions illustrating  the  anatomy  and  life  his- 
tory of  the  various  forms,  all  adequately 
labeled. 

ENTOMOLOGY 

The  museum  is  fortunate  in  the  possession 
of  the  late  Dr  Lintner’s  private  collection 
of  insects,  which  comprises  some  4800 
species  representing  all  orders.  The  general 
state  collection  is  increasing  rapidly  in  size 
and  4^  being  classified  and  arranged  as 
rapidly  as  circumstances  will  permit.  The 
removal  of  the  office  in  1901  from  the  capitol 
to  enlarged  and  more  convenient  quarters  in 
Geological  Hall  has  allowed  the  display  of  a 


Plate  15 


General  view  of^‘ — 


New  York  State  Museum  39 

I number  of  collections.  There  is  now  a gen- 
eral exhibit  of  the  more  important  insects 
affecting  fruit  trees,  small  fruits,  garden 
* crops  and  grains,  comprising  83  species  and 
representing  the  various  stages  of  each  insect 
together  with  its  work,  so  far  as  material 
permits.  A special  collection  of  those  annoy- 
ing or  destructive  about  houses  and  those 
affecting  stored  food  products  has  also  been 
j arranged  along  similar  lines.  A small  col- 
^ lection  representing  55  species  of  beneficial 
insects  illustrates  some  of  the  more  impor- 
tant of  these  forms  and  another  of  39  species 
of  scale  insects  gives  a good  idea  of  the  gen- 
eral appearance  of  members  of  this  exceed- 
ingly destructive  group.  Species  injurious  to 
forest  trees  are  represented  by  49  species 
and  those  affecting  shade  trees  by  16,  the 
various  stages  and  methods  of  work  being 
illustrated  in  the  two  latter  groups  so  far  as 
possible.  There  is  a special  collection  of  30 
species  illustrating  the  work  of  gall  insects 
and  a general  idea  of  the  class  Insecta  may 
be  gained  from  a small  systematic  collection, 
comprising  634  species  and  representing 
most  of  the  important  groups.  In  addition 
to  these  there  is  a collection  of  15  species, 
mounted  in  Denton  tablets,  illustrating  pro- 


Plate  i 6 


New  York  State  Museum  41 

tective  mimicry,  another  of  the  same  number 
comprising  some  of  our  more  beautiful  native 
butterflies'  and  moths  and  a technical  col- 
lection of  60  different  articles  illustrating 
the  methods  of  collecting  and  preserving 
insects.  Another  representing  the  principal 
differences  between  the  common,  malarial 
and  yellow  fever  mosquitos  is  on  exhibition. 
Small  collections  illustrating  the  species 
commonly  occurring  in  the  spring,  summer 
and  fall,  and  those  of  interest  on  account  of 
unusual  form,  size  or  other  characters  are 
exhibited  for  the  convenience  of  teachers 
and  their  pupils,  and  the  division  has  also 
arranged  to  loan  public  schools  small  col- 
lections which  may  be  used  to  illustrate  the 
work  in  this  branch  of  natural  history. 

BOTANY 

The  space  in  Geological  Hall  which  has 
been  assigned  to  the  botanic  department  is 
on  the  second  floor  in  the  southern  extension 
of  the  building.  It  is  divided  into  two  rooms. 
The  front  room  is  used  for  exhibition  pur- 
poses and  contains  sections  of  the  trunks  of 
75  of  the  trees  native  to  New  York,  which 
are  cut  to  show  the  vertical,  transverse  and 
tangential  sections.  One  half  of  each  vertical 
and  tangential  section  is  polished  and  the 


42  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

other  is  left  unfinished  in  order  to  give  an 
idea  of  the  appearance  of  the  woods  of  New 
York  in  their  natural  and  polished  state. 

Here  also  are  exhibited  in  swinging  frames, 
supported  by  upright  standards,  photo- 
graphs of  trees  and  thin  sections  of  their 
wood.  A collection  of  our  edible  and 
poisonous  mushrooms  and  other  plants,  or 
parts  or  products  of  plants,  that  may  have 
such  importance  or  economic  value  as 
to  be  of  special  public  interest  will  soon  be 
exhibited  in  table  cases  in  this  room. 

The  rear  room  contains  the  office  of  the 
botanist,  the  library,  the  herbarium  and 
duplicate  specimens  together  with  speci- 
mens of  extralimital  species.  This  room 
will  also  be  used  in  part  as  a botanic 
workroom. 

The  herbarium  consists  of  specimens  of 
plants  of  the  State  including  plants  of  all 
orders  and  extralimital  species.  Specimens 
of  extralimital  species  are  kept  separate. 

In  the  exhibition  room  there  is  also  a 
case  containing  small  wood  specimens,  some 
of  which  are  of  historic  interest.  Others 
show  different  classes  of  injury  to  the  woods 
and  the  manner  in  which  the  trees  have 
repaired  or  overgrown  these  injuries,  in  the 
process  of  growth. 


New  York  State  Museum  43 

ARCHEOLOGY 

The  collections  in  archeology  are  installed 
on  the  fourth  floor  of  the  capitol  in  the 
corridor  at  the  head  of  the  western  staircase 
and  are  of  much  interest. 

The  early  and  common  aboriginal  relics 
are  represented  by  polished  celts,  gouges, 
arrow  and  spear  heads,  pestles,  banner  stones 
and  gorgets,  and  other  articles  of  chipped  or 
polished  stone,  including  early  and  recent 
pipes.  Some  of  the  latter  are  of  great 
interest.  There  is  an  excellent  collection  of 
clay  pipes.  These  were  mostly  made 
between  1500  and  1700.  Many  are  highly 
polished  and  some  are  of  unique  form.  Frag- 
ments of  decorated  pottery  belong  to  the 
same  period,  though  used  much  earlier. 

Two  large  boulders  with  straight  grooves 
on  the  surface,  are  dated  between  1550  and 
1650.  They  are  confined  to  two  small 
sections  of  New  York.  Some  fine  specimens 
of  native  copper  implements  are  of  early 
date  and  rare  in  this  State.  European  cop- 
per or  brass  is  represented  by  flat  triangular 
arrow  heads,  wire  bracelets,  medals,  rings, 
crosses  and  beads  used  between  1620  and 
1700.  Silver  ornaments  succeeded  these. 
They  include  the  now  rare  head  bands, 


Plate  17 


and  stone  implements,  masks  and  beads 


46  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

long  beads,  crosses,  varied  and  beautiful 
brooches,  earrings,  rings  and  bracelets. 
Glass  beads  bear  date  from  about  1620,  and 
are  rounded  orcylindric,  and  both  large  and 
small.  They  vary  in  color,  and  some  frag- 
ments of  large  Venetian  beads  have  con- 
centric layers  of  different  hues. 

The  shell  beads  are  recent,  except  some 
long  and  rude  specimens.  Historic  wampum 
is  represented  by  beads  from  graves,  but 
better  by  the  fine  wampum  belts,  with  varied 
emblems,  which  are  exhibited  in  the  State 
Library.  Two  of  these  are  the  widest 
known,  being  45  and  50  rows  wide.  Long 
Island  was  the  seat  of  wampum  manu- 
facture, and  beads  were  long  provincial 
currency.  Some  fine  shell  ornaments  of  the 
17th  century  may  be  seen,  all  made  with 
metallic  tools.  The  fine  polished  bone  and 
horn  articles  were  of  that  and  preceding 
centuries. 

The  collection  of  Iroquois  wood  and  husk 
masks  is  the  best  one  known.  They  are 
still  used  on  the  New  York  reservations.  A 
collection  of  modern  Iroquois  articles  was 
made  for  the  museum  over  50  years  ago,  by 
Mr  Lewis  H.  Morgan.  It  included  a canoe, 
bows  and  arrows,  the  snow-snake,  used  in  a 


Wampum  belts 


48  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  f 

winter  game,  lacrosse  bats,  pestle  and  mor- 
tar, burden  frame  carried  on  the  back-,  cradle 
board,  carved  spoons,  baskets  and  other 
articles  of  wood,  besides  beautifully  beaded 
clothing  of  all  kinds. 

The  attendance  of  the  visitors  to  the  State 
Museum  has  been  such  as  to  show  a marked 
interest  in  its  collections  on  the  part  of  the 
public.  The  number  of  persons  visiting  the 
collections  during  the  fiscal  year  ending  { 
October  1902  was  75,598. 

The  Museum  through  its  various  divisions, 
identifies  specimens  submitted  for  examina-  \ 
ion  and  provides,  free  of  charge,  information 
relative  thereto.  Information  on  questions 
of  economic  geology  must,  however,  be 
limited  to  such  inquiries  or  qualitative  de- 
terminations as  do  not  involve  assays  or 
exact  analyses. 

The  collections  are  accessible  for  study 
and  comparison  all  week  days  between  the 
hours  of  9 a.m.  and  4.30  p.m.  during  which 
time  members  of  the  museum  staff  will  be 
glad  to  answer  questions  relative  to  the 
collections  of  their  divisions. 

Maps  and  bulletins  published  by  the 
museum  may  be  obtained  in  the  office  of  the 
director  and  state  geologibt  on  the  third 
floor  or  by  written  request  to  F.  J.  H. 
Merrill,  Director,  New  York  State  Museum, 
Albany  N.  Y.  A price  list  of  these  publica- 
tions will  be  sent  to  any  address  on  appli- 
cation. Remittances  should  be  payable  to 
the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York. 


University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

The  object  of  the  University  as 
ed  by  law  is  to  encourage  and  promote 
n in  advance  of  the  common  ele- 
ry  branches.  Its  field  includes  not 
network  of  secondary  schools,  colleges, 
iities,  professional  and  technical 
.s,  but  also  educational  work  connected 
with  libraries,  museums,  study  clubs,  exten- 
sion courses  and  similar  agencies. 

Government.  The  University  is  governed 
and  all  its  corporate  powers  exercised  by  19 
elective  Regents  and  by  the  Governor,  Lieu- 
tenant Governor,  Secretary  of  State,  and 
Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  who 
.re  ex  officio  Regents.  Regents  are  elected 
n the  same  manner  as  United  States  sena- 
;ors ; they  are  unsalaried,  and  are  the  only 
ublic  officers  in  New  York  chosen  for  life. 
The  elective  officers  are  a Chancellor  and 
Vice  Chancellor,  who  serve  without  salary, 
nd  a secretary.  The  secretary  is  the  exec- 
utive and  financial  officer,  is  under  official 
bonds  for  $10,000,  is  responsible  for  the  safe- 
keeping and  proper  use  of  the  University 
seal  and  of  the  books,  records  and  other 
property  in  charge  of  the  Regents,  and  for 
the  proper  administration  and  discipline  of 
its  various  offices  and  departments. 


..  ‘/Tv 


University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

— — 

Powers  and  duties.  Besides  many  other 
important  powers  and  duties,  the  Regents 
have  power  to  incorporate,  and  to  alter  or 
revoke  the  charters  of  universities,  colleges, 
academies,  libraries,  museums,  or  other  eclu-  { 
cational  institutions;  to  distribute  to  tjiem 
funds  granted  by  the  State  for  their  use;  to 
inspect  their  workings  and  require  annual', 
reports  under  oath  of  their  presiding  officers ; 
to  establish  examinations  as  to  attainments 
in  learning  and  confer  on  successful  candi-; 
dates  suitable  certificates,  diplomas  and  f 
degrees,  and  to  confer  honorary  degrees.  | ^ 

Regents  meetings.  The  annual  meeting  : 
is  held  the  first  Thursday  in  December,  ah&  \ 
other  meetings  are  held  as  often  as  business 
requires.  An  executive  committee  of  nine 
Regents  is  elected  at  the  annual  meeting  to 
act  for  the  board  in  the  intervals  between  its; 
meetings,  except  that  it  can  not  grant,  alter, 
suspend  or  revoke  charters  or  confer  honor- 
ary degrees.  . ) 

Convocation.  The  University  Convoca- 
tion of  the  Regents  and  the  officers  of  insti- 
tutions in  the  University  meets  the  Mondays 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday  after  the  lourth  i 
Friday  in  June.  Its  reputation  as  the  most 
important  higher  educational  meeting  of  the . 
country  has  in  the  past  few  years  drawn  to 
it  many  eminent  educators  not  residents  of 
New  York,  who  are  most  cordially  welcomed 
and  share  fully  in  all  discussions.  Its  pro- 
ceedings, issued  annually,  are  of  great  value 
in  all  educational  libraries/ 


